Panel upholstering machine and method



Aug. 4, 1936.

A. S. MITCHELL PANEL UPHOLSTERING MACHINE AND METHOD 4 Sheecs-Sheet 1 Fi led March 16, 1935 Aug. 4, 1936-.

A. S MITCHELL PANEL UPI-IOLSTERING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed-March 16, 1935 4 Sheelts-Sheet 2 IIIIIIIIIII/ Aug. 4, 1936. A. s. MITCHELL 2,049,970

' PANEL UPI-IOLSTERING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed March 16 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet s Aug. 4, 1936. A. s. MITCHELL 2,049,970

PANEL UPHOLSTERING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed March 16, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 i at enteci Aug. 4,

PATENT OFFICE PANEL UPHOLSTERING MACHINE AND METHOD Application March 16, 1935, Serial No. 11,527

'25 Claims.

This invention relates to a panel-upholstering method and a novel machine for conveniently practicing said method.

The primary object of the invention is to improve and cheapen the upholstering of panels.

The invention finds an extremely important application to the purpose of upholstering panels which are adapted for use in lining or other walls of automobile bodies. It is now familiar practice to apply such trim-panels by means of suitable fasteners, such as snap-buttons or other snapfasteners. 7

The invention is illustrated, in a preferred embodiment, inthe accompanying drawings, in

which- Figure 1 is a broken elevational view of a machine for conveniently practicing the method; Fig. 2, a plan view of the same with a panel and fabric (shown brokenly) in position thereon; Fig. 3, a broken sectional View of a part of the mechanism for tilting the panel-support, taken as in- I dicated at line 3 of Fig. 5; Fig. 4, a broken sectional View taken as indicated at line 4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5, a broken sectional elevational view taken as indicated at line 5 of Fig. 2; Fig. 6, a broken sectional viewof the suction box and panel-supporting member; Fig. 7, a similar view with the panel-support in its lowermost position; Fig. 8, a plan view of a panel, such as the left rear door panel for an automobile, adapted to be upholstered in accordance with the present invention; and Fig. 9, a bottom plan view of the panel shown in Fig. 8 after the upholsteryhas been attached.

In the drawings, A designates a frame adapted to support on'its upper side a suction boxA' B, a panel-supporting member equipped on its upper side with a panel-supporting plate B and C, mechanism for actuating the panel-supporting member B and panel-support tilting mecha- 4 nism C. l

The frame A may be of any suitable construction and is shown with suitable legs H) which support a bed H to which is secured the suctionbox A by means of bolts [2. The suction-box A 45 comprises a box-like structure connected at its lower side to a suction elbow l3 through which air may be drawn by means of a suitable blower, not shown, to produce a partial vacuum in the box. The lowerlside of the box is perforated to permit a plunger M'of the member B to be projected therethrough and a suitable'stufiing box I5 is provided to furnish a-substantially air-tight connection. The upper, face -16 of the suctionbox is perforated, as indicated at H, and serves to admit air ,fromaround the edgesfof the panelsupporting plate B when the memberB is in its extended position. When the member B is in its lowermost position, .as shown in Fig. '7, the plate B forms a closure for the opening ll. The suction-box A is further provided with a perimetral 5 frame H? which conforms to the outline of the plate B but lies slightly beyond the same when the plate is in its lowermost position.

The panel-supporting member B comprises the plunger l4 mentioned above and is equipped at its 10 upper end with a rigidly connected head E9 to which the panel-supporting plate B is pivotally connected, as indicated at 20. To the plunger M is rigidly connected a valve disc 2! which forms a closure for the opening ll when the plunger is in 15 its extended position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5. The plunger I4 is hollow, with its upper portion blocked. off by a plug 22. A port 23 communicates with the interior of the suction-box A so that the upper end-portion of the plunger is subjected to 20 avacuum corresponding with that in the suctionbox A. The lower portion of the plunger operates through a suitable guide-member 24 provided on the frame A and is equipped near its central portion with a roller 25 adapted to rest on the 5 elevating-member 26, as will be explained below. A foot-treadle 2'! is pivoted to the frame at 28 and has a rearwardly extending arm 29 which is adapted to engage the lower end of the plunger L and elevate the same independently of the mech- 80 anism C. The treadle is normally held in its inoperative position by means of a tension spring 30.

The panel-supporting plate B is fixed to a base member 3! and is provided near its central portion with a suctional area 32 which communicates with the passage 33 in the hollow upper end of the plunger l4. Thus it will be understood that when a panel is placed on the plate B, its central portion may be gripped firmly against the plate through the action of the suction in the box A. When the plunger is retracted into its lowermost position, the opening ll in the top of "the suction-box will be uncovered by the valve member 2| and the marginal edges 36 of a superposed fabric 35 will be drawn inwardly, around the panel 36 and will be pressed against the lower side of. said panel by contact with the peremetral frame l8, see Figs. 6 and '7.

The plunger member M is raised and lowered in the timed cycle by means of the mechanism C, which comprises a motor 31 mounted on a horizontal support 38 secured to the frame A' by means of bolts 39. A cam shaft 40, journaled in brackets 4!, is driven by the motor through suitable worm gears containedin the gear box 42. HA5

centrally disposed cam 43 is engaged by a roller 44 journaled on the arm 26 which is pivotally connected to the frame A at 45. Thus it will be understood that for each complete revolution of the shaft 40, the plunger M will be raised and lowered once. In order to tip-up the panel-support B and assist the action of the vacuum in drawing the edges'of the fabric around the panel 36, a pair of push rods 46 are provided and ex tend upwardly through the stufi-lng boxes 41 in the suction-box A to contact the lower side of the panel-support B. As shown in Fig. 3, the lower ends of the rods 46 extend through'sleeves 48 and make a yielding connection by means'of a spring 49 with a yoke 50 provided with a roller which rides on a rock arm-52 pivoted-tothe frame at 53 and makes a driving connection with a cam 54 by means of a roller 55. The sleeve *48 is free to slide upwardly and downwardly through a bushing 56 provided in the bracket* 5'l'seeured 0t 4 9 t e 936 1 T am 5 t m s. wi h res ee t9 h v cam 43 so that he p rods 46 will project up into engagementwith the panel-support on its downward movement to permit one side of the panel 36 tooome-into engagement with the frame I8 while the opposite side is still in the air, as shown in Fig. 6. The push rod 46 is then retracted andthe panel settles'down into the position shown in Fig. 7.

The panel-supportingblate 36 may be slightly concave upwardly, as shown in Fig. 6, or,"if desired, it may be made sufliciently flexible "that when it is in its lowermost position, asshown in Fig. 7, the'panel plate'will 'bebent concaveupwardly. As the suction which is applied bythsuctional area 32 holds the panel -Sfi snugly against its face, it will'be' warped with'its marginal edges turned upwardly while the superposed fabric 35 will be drawn taut between the upturned marginal edges of the panel. Thusit will be understood that after the fabric-has-been secured imposition by'suitable-adhesive and the panel elevated above the suction-box A, the

panel will return to its-original straight conand pressed against the; underside of the'p'anel :by suitable spacing pads 60;"see Fig. 4, which are secured to'the' top wall 'l6- of the" suction box by means of machine screws 6 l "Ihe'methodof upholstering the-panel ispracticed' by allowing" the continuously =driven motor 31' 'to raise the-plunger [4 to its'up'permostpositionand'placing a panel 36 in proper superposed position upon the panel-support B. A suitably "shaped piece of upholstery 36 is then placed--on top of the 'panel;'as shown in Fig; 2; and glue or other adhesive is applied to the-bottomouter marginal portions of the panel-36 and the-fabric 35. The motor then permits the plunger 14"to "suction-"boxA"through the opening l'rwhi'ch is uncovered by'the plate 2|.

The push ro'ds*46 tilt the'plate B and 'the'suction draws" the marginal "edges 34 tightly around the Inner-as. The push rods then permit the panel-to s'ettle into'the position shown'in Fig. '7' and the 'marginal"edges 'of the fabric arep'ress'e'd snugly' against the panel machine 'withoutspower, he can raise the panel- 'supp'o'rt at will-bymeans of the treadle 21, as will be readily -understood.

l posed fabric with projecting marginss-a suctionand -means' forapplying-suction-through P said suction-box whereby --the=-margins o f--the fabric at' the opposite margin of the fabric.

panel may be'removed "and replaced by the next .panel.

It will be understood that during the above steps, theunderside of the flaps 59 and adjacent portions of the panel will also be coated with adhesive andjoined in the same manner. Incase theoperator wishes to delay the retraction of the plunger l4 or wishes to operate the In operating the machine, it has been found that where a suitable adhesive such as latex is iised, from three to five panels may be completed in aminute. A vacuum of :severalpounds drawainarourid the adhesive causes it to dryvery quickly. The adhesive m'ay be'brushe'd. on or support adapted to support apanel with its edgeportions projecting and upholstery-fabric with edge portions projecting beyond the panel; and means for'applying suction to draw the margins of the fabric underthe margins-of-the panel.

2: In a panel-upholstering machine: a panelsupport adapted to= support a. panel-andsuperbox having a; bearing for the margin of: the panel and interposed fabric marg-in; means foreffecting relative j approaching and receding :-movements of said panel support -and suction-box;

will 'be' drawn beneath; the-margins of the panel as" said panel and saidbearing--approach each other.

3. A panel-upholstering machine-comprising: a

panel-support-=adapted tosupport a. panel-with projecting margins and superposed-fabric having projecting-margins; a- -suction-box beneath said -fabricbetween thesuction-box" and the: margins of the-panel.

4. --A device as* specifiedin claim 3,: including means for tilting"the -panel=support relative-to 5 v the suction-boxasth'ey approach each othen so that one-margin ofthe fabric will=be folded about an edge- -portion ofi thepaneland pressed against the suction-'box in advai'ice of the pressing action deviceas specified: in claim' 3, inclu'ding means-for fp'ressing the interned marginaL-porti'ons'of the fabric again'st the panel.

panel upwardly towards the fabric and means for pressing the marginal portions of the fabric against the lower side of said flexed panel.

7. In a machine of the character set forth: a frame; a suction-boxmounted on said frame and having an opening in its upper side; a panel-support disposed over said opening and adapted when lowered to form a closure therefor, said panel-support being spaced above the upper surface of said suction-box when at the upper end of its traverse; and means for raising and lowering said panel-support.

8. A machine as specified in claim '7, in which the panel-support is mounted upona plunger adapted to be projected from the suction-box through said opening, and. said plunger is provided with means for closing said opening when the panel support is projectedto its uppermost position. I

9. In a machine of the character set forth: a frame; a suction-box mounted on said frame and. having an opening in its upper side; a plunger adapted to be projected through said opening; a panel-support mounted on the upper end of said plunger and adapted in its lowermost position to form a closure for said opening and in its uppermost position spaced at a distance above the top of said suction-box; a closure member mounted on said plunger within said suction-box so as to close said opening when the plunger is in extended position; and means for raising and lowering said plunger.

10. A machine as specified in claim 9, in which the panel-support is pivotally mounted on the plunger, and means are provided for tilting said panel-support while it is being raised or lowered.

11. In a machine of the character set forth: a frame; a suction-box mounted on said frame and having an opening in its upper side; a plunger adapted to be projected through said opening; a panel-support pivotally mounted on the upper end of said plunger and adapted to form a closure for said opening; means for raising and lowering said plunger; and means for tilting said panelsupport with respect to the suction-box in timed relation to the movement of said plunger.

12. In a machine of the character set forth: a frame; a suction-box mounted on said frame and having an opening in its upper side; a plunger adapted to be projected through said opening; a panel-support pivotally mounted on the upper end of said plunger and adapted to form a closure for said opening; and a motor-driven shaft provided with cam-means'for raising and lowering said plunger, and an additional cam and push rod adapted to tilt said panel-support in timed relation to the movement of said plunger.

13. In a machine of the character set forth: a frame; a suction-box mounted on said frame and having an opening in its upper side; a plunger adapted to be projected through said opening; a

panel-support mounted on the upper end of said plunger and spaced above the top of said suctionbox when raised and adapted to form a closure for said opening when lowered, said panel-support having in its upper face a suction area adapted to grip a panel resting thereon, and said area communicating through a passage in said plunger with the interior of the suction-box, said suction-box having a top-surface adapted to form a bearing for the margin of the panel when lowered; and means for lowering said panel-support to cause the margins of the panel board to seat on said bearing and the central portion of the panel-board to be bowed downwardly.

14. A panel-upholstering methodwhich comprises; supporting a panel and a fabric thereon with margins projecting beyond the edges of the panel; and suctionally folding the fabric-margins about and beneath the edge-portions of the panel. 5

15. A panel-upholstering method which com prises: supporting a'panel' with its marginsprojecting and fabric thereon with the'fabric marginal portions projecting beyond the panel; suctionally drawing the fabric I edge-portions about and beneath the edge-portions of the panel; and pressing the fabric margins onto the lower margin of said panel.

16. A panel-upholstering method which comprises: supporting a panel with its margins pro- 15 jecting and fabric thereon with the fabric mar- 2 ginal portions projecting beyond the panel; applying adhesive to the marginal portion of the fabric or panel; flexing the central portion of the panel away from the fabric; suctionally drawing the fabric edge-portions about and beneath the 30 edge-portions of the panel; and pressing the fabric margins against the panel.

18. A panel-upholstering method which comprises: supporting a panel-board with its margins projecting and a superposed fabric thereon 35 with its margins projecting beyond those of the panel-board and free from support; pneuma ically folding the margins of the fabric about the edges of the panel-board and against the back thereof and interposing an adhesive; and bringing the margins of the panel-board and the underlying margins of the fabric under compressive action against an underlying bearing-surface.

19. In a machine of the character set forth: a frame; a suction-box mounted on said frame and having an opening in its upper side and having a bearing-surface for the margins of a panel; an upwardly concave panel-support disposed over said opening and vertically reciprocable above 50 the plane of said suction-box and adapted to suctionally hold the panel and cause the margins to seat on said bearing; and means for effecting relative approaching and receding movements between said suction-box and panel-support.

20. A machine as specified in claim 19, in which said panel-support is tiltably mounted.

21. In combination: a suction-box having a top wall provided with an air-admission opening and provided also with a peripheral panelbearing; a plunger working vertically through said suction-box and carrying at its upper end a suctional panel-support reciprocable through a 65 space above the plane of the top of said suctionbox and adapted to carry a panel with projecting margins adapted to seat on said panel-bearing and a superposed panel-cover with margins projecting beyond the edges of the panel, whereby 70 the margins of the cover may be suctionally drawn about and beneath the margins of the panel; and mechanism for reciprocating said plunger.

22. A machine as specified in claim 21, in which 75 

